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Journal Article 2009; 30(4): 477-481 PubMed PMID: 20010504 Citation  Keywords:  Adenoma:metabolism, Adult, Aged, Apoptosis:physiology, Biomarkers, Tumor:metabolism, Cell Division:physiology, Female, Humans, Immunohistochemistry, Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins, Male, Microtubule-Associated Proteins:metabolism, Middle Aged, Pituitary .   

OBJECTIVES: The survivin is the protein involved in regulation of basic and cycle-specific functions of cells both in normal and cancer tissue. Recent studies present survivin as a factor having the leading role in the regulation of apoptosis and mitosis as well as a target of anticancer therapy. The employing of survivin in this therapy is based on its high expression level in most human cancers, as well as its association with the disease's progression. The aim of our study was to evaluate the expression and localization of survivin's gene product on the protein level in different types of pituitary tumors and normal pituitary. The coexpression of survivin and proliferating cell nuclear antigen - PCNA in pituitary was also examined.

DESIGN AND METHODS: The study was conducted on the postoperative pituitary tumors tissue taken during standard neurosurgical removal of tumor from 43 patients. The group of patients consists of 23 women and 20 men, aged from 27 to 71 years. As a control of the study three normal pituitary tissues obtained at the autopsy were used. Evaluation of survivin and PCNA expression was performed using immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTS: The study demonstrated the presence of survivin in all analyzed by us pituitary tumors. Survivin was present also in normal pituitary tissue. The protein was localized mainly in cell's nuclei, however the less intense immunostaining was observed also in the cytoplasm of pituitary tumors cells. Furthermore survivin was found in normal pituitary, but the positive immunostaining was limited to a single cells. The analysis of pituitary tumor cells proliferation index based on PCNA reactivity showed that survivin is coexpressed with PCNA, especially in invasive tumors.

CONCLUSIONS: The study documented the presence of survivin in different types of pituitary tumors as well as in normal pituitary. Additionally the coexpression of survivin and PCNA in tumor cells was shown. The expression of survivin in both normal and cancer pituitary cells suggests that it may play an important role in regulation of the gland's proliferation....

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Journal Article 2005; 26(6): 663-666 PubMed PMID: 16380693 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Apoptosis:physiology, Endometrium:metabolism, Female, Humans, Immunohistochemistry, Menstrual Cycle:metabolism, Metallothionein:metabolism, Middle Aged, Statistics, Nonparametric,.   

OBJECTIVES: Molecular changes observed in endometrium with respect to menstrual cycle changes seem to be crucial for the reproductive function. Accumulation of cytotoxic cells increases the exposure of endometrial cells to apoptosis. Protection against apoptosis may be reached by endometrial cells by self molecular regulation. Metallothionein was suggested to participate in this process. The aim of our study was to evaluate endometrial MT immunoreactivity with respect to the menstrual cycle phases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: MT expression was assessed using immunohistochemistry method in 47 endometrial tissue samples derived from randomly selected patients with respect to the menstrual cycle phases--proliferative and secretory with distinguishing early, mid and late subphases in each.

RESULTS: MT expression changes were observed respectively to hormonal fluctuations with the highest level during mid secretory phase and its respective decrease during the early, late secretory and mid proliferative menstrual cycle phases. The lowest MT immunoreactivity level was disclosed during early proliferative phase.

CONCLUSION: Significant differences in MT expression observed in endometrium with respect to menstrual cycle changes might suggest MT participation in endometrial cells protection against apoptosis....

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